Toy



I To all whom it may concern:

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jul 26, 1921.

Application filed December 16, 1920. Serial No. 431,237.

Be it known that I, CLARENCE BURN, a citizen of the United States,residin at South Greensburg, in the county of Wistmoreland and State. ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in theart to WhlCll 1t appertains to make and use the same- This inventionrelates to an improved toy and one object ofthe invention is to providea toy of the track and marble type in which the marbles or rollers willbe mounted in a receptacle above the upper end portion of the track anda guard provided to feed the marblesout of the receptacle one at a time,the actuating means for the guard being connected with a section of thetrack whereby marbles passing over' the track will cause the guard to bemoved and release the marbles from the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the guard for thereceptacle outlet that it will permit the marbles to readily pass outofthe receptacle but at the same time very efliciently prevent more thanone marble from passing out with each operation of the guard.

Anotherobject of the invention is to so construct the toy that thesections which 'form the track may be positioned one above the otherwith each track section positioned at an incline and having its lowerend portion above the upper end of a lower track section, the lower endportions of the sections being pivotally mounted so that they may swingdown into engagement with track sections beneath them.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this toy that asignal bell may be mounted adjacent the lower end of the lowermost tracksection and the bell sounded in timed relation to the passage of themarbles over the pivoted portions of the track sections. 2

Another object of the invention is to so construct this to that therewill be no daner of the marb es bouncing from the track are.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this toy that it willbe compara-- tivel simple in construction and strong and dura 1e andvery efiicient in its operation.

W. BLACK- This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing the improved toy principally in sideelevation and partially in section. V

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a portion of thereceptacle and track structure.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the guard controlling passageof the marbles through the outlet of the receptacle.

This toy is provided with abase having a center bar 1, side strips 2 andend blocks 3 which connect the center bar with the side strip 2. A tray4 is mounted between the center bar 1 andone of the side strips 2 inwhich the marbles may be placed when the toy is not in use and oneportion of the center bar is cut away to provide an inclined seat 5 fordirecting the marbles into the space 6 when the toy is inuse. Standards7 are carried by the end blocks and bracing strips 8 are secured to thecenter bar l-upon opposite sides thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 andalso in Fig. 3 so that the track bars 9 may be firmly supported. Thesetrack bars are positioned one above the other as clearly shown in Fig. 1and extend downwardly with the adjacent track bars extending in oppositedirections and the lower free end portions 10, of the upper track barspivotally mounted so that the 'free. end portions of the upper bars mayswing downwardly to engage the upper end portions of the track barseneath them. The track bars will each be formed from side strips asshown in Fig.

3 which are spaced apart, the side strips of the major portion of thetrack bar being held in spaced relation byspacing strips 9' and the sidestrips which form the pivoted end-portions 10 being held in spacedrelation by a spacing strip 10 which in addition to providing spacingmeans extends between the side strips of t e major portion of the trackbar and receives a pivot pin 11. Side arms 12 are connected with thepivoted end portions of the track bars, the arms 12 with the exceptionof those carried b v the pivoted. end portion of the second trac c.W.BLACKBURN TOY.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. 1-920.

Patented July 26, 1921.

2 smans snzu 2.

A 3144K! W1 0i ilffiZacZjzava I To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES CLARENCE W. BLACKBURN, OF SOUTH GREENSBURG, IPENNSYLVAKIA.

TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1921.

Application filed December 16, 1920. Serial No. 431,287.

Be it known that I, CLARENCE BURN, a citizen of the United States,res1din at South Greensburg, in the county of estmoreland and StateofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others'skilled in theart to whlch 1t appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved toy and one object of'theinvention is to provide atoy of the track and marble type in which themarbles or rollers will be mounted in a receptacle above the upper endportion of the track and a guard provided to feed the marbles out of thereceptacle one at a time, the actuating means for the guard beingconnected with a section of the track whereby marbles passing over' thetrack Wlll cause the guard to be moved and release the marbles from thereceptacle.

Another object of'the invention is to so construct the guard for thereceptacle outlet that it will permit the marbles to readily pass out ofthe receptacle but at the same time very efiiciently prevent more thanone marble from passing out with each operation of the guard.

Another object of the inventlon 1s t0 so construct the toy that thesections wh1ch form the track may be positioned one above the other witheach track section positioned at an incline and having its lower endportion above the upper end of a lower track section, the lower endportions of the sections being pivotally mounted so that they may swingdown into engagement with track sections beneath them.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this toy that asignal bell may be mounted adjacent the lower end of the lowermost tracksection and the bell sounded in timed relation to the passage of themarbles over the pivoted portions of the track sections.

Another object of the invention is to so constructthis to that therewill be no daner of the marb es bouncing from the track are.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this toy that it willbe compara-- tivel simple in construction and strong and dura 1e andvery eflicient in its operation.

w. BLACK This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing,wherein: I

Figure 1 is a view showing the improved toy principally in sideelevation and partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary sectional view taken through a portion of thereceptacle and track structure.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the guard controlling passageof the marbles through the outlet of the receptacle.

This toy is provided with a base having a center bar 1, side strips 2and end blocks 3 which connect the center bar with the side strip 2. Atray 4 is mounted between the center bar 1 and one of the side strips 2in which the marbles may be placed when the toy is not in use and oneportion of the center bar is cut away to provide an inclined seat 5 fordirecting the marbles intothe space 6 when the toy is inuse. Standards 7are carried by the end blocks and bracing strips 8 are secured to thecenter bar lupon opposite sides thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 andalso in Fig. 3 so that the track bars 9 may be firmly supported. Thesetrack bars are positioned one above the other as clearly shown in Fig. 1and extend downwardly with the adjacent track bars extending in oppositedirections and the lower free end portions 10, of the upper track barspivotally mounted so that the 'free. end portions of the upper bars mayswing downwardly to engage the upper end portions of the track barseneath them. The track bars will each be I formed from side strips asshown in Fig. 3 which are spaced apart, the side strips of the majorportion of the track bar being held in spaced relation byspacing strips9' and the side strips which form the piv-.

oted end-portions 10 being held in spaced relation by a spacing strip10' which in addition to providing spacln means extends between the sidestrips of t e major portion of the track bar and receives a pivot pin11. Side arms 12 are connected with the pivoted end portions of thetrack bars, the arms 12 with the exception of those carried b v thepivoted end portion of the second trac 14 are section being weighted asshown at 13 normall retain the pivoted end portions 1n a raised positionand out of engagement with the following track bars. Guard strips tions0 the lower track bars and a slgnal bell 15 is suspended from betweenthe side strips of the lower track bar for engagement b a striker 16which is plvotall mounte between the hanger brackets 1 and extendsupwardly for engagement by a marble moving along the lower track barsection.

When operating this device, the marbles 18 will be placed.in thereceptacle 19 whlch receptacle is carried b the side strips 8 and ispositioned at an inc ine with its lower end portion provided with anoutlet 20 through which the marbles will pass and drop upon the uppertrack bar 9, a guide strip 21 being provided to direct the marblesdownwardly and side plates 22 similar to the plates 14 being provided toprevent the marbles from movlng transversely off of the upper track whenfirst landing thereon. It is deslred to have the marbles or rollers 18fed one at a time through the outlet opening 20 and in order to do so,there has been rovlded a guard which feeds the marbles t rough theopening one at a time. Thls guard is provided with arocker shaft 23which is {ournaled in the side walls of the receptac e 19 andis'provided with fin rs 24 which. ex-

tends longitudinally of t e receptacle and are curved downwardly asshown in Figs. 4 and 6. One end portion of the rocker shaft extendsthrough the side wall of the receptacle and is flattened as shown at 25thus providing a fiat head with w hich the upper end of a lever strip 26is r1g1dly connected. This lever strip extends downwardly from therocker shaft and is then bent to extend longitudinall of the upper trackbar and has its free en portion twlsted and etxending downwardly at anincline. The free end of the lever is connected with the arm 12 of theivoted end second track bar y means 0 a. link 27 so that when a marblepasses over this pivoted end portion of the second track bar,'the guardwill receive movement. An arm 28 extends from the lever beneath thereceptacle and is provided with upwardly curved fingers 29 which extendthrough slots 30 in the bottom of the receptacle adjacent the outletopening 20. These fin rs 29 curve toward the free ends of the ngers 24but terminate in spaced relation to the fingers 24 and are of suchlength that when the lever 26 is swun downwardly and brings the free endportlons of the fingers 24 close to the openin 20, the fingers 29 willnot extend above t e bottom of the receptacle 19 thereby grmitting themarbles to move downwar y until stopped by one of the positioned aboutthe upper end por.-'

ortion of the marbles engaging the free end of the fingers 24. I Thetrough will 'hold a predetermined number of marbles .or rollers and whenplaying the game a sufiioient number of marbles.

will be used to fill the receptacle and leave one additional marble. Inthe present illustration, thirteenmarbles are required to fill thereceptacle and the fourteenth will be placed upon the upper track barbeneath the receptacle. This marble will pass down the upper track barand will tilt the pivoted end portion thereof so that the pivoted endportion rests upon the second track bar and thus permits the marble topass easily onto the second track bar. After passing from the pivotedend of the upper track bar, this pivoted end is swung up to a raisedposition and the marble will then pass down the second track bar andover the pivoted end thereof onto the third track bar. In passingoverthe pivoted end portion of the second track, the lever 26 will be swungu wardly so that the fingers 29.move upwardly behind the marble en agedby the fin ers 24 and in front .of t e following mar le. This marblewhich will then be in front of the fingers 29 will be released from thefingers 24 as the fingers 24 move upwardly to the position shown in Fig.4 and the marble will drop through the opening 20 down upon the uppertrack bar. The marbles will thus be successively permitted to passthrough the opening 20 and when the'toy is in operation, the marbles onthe different track bars will reach the lower ends thereof atapproximately the same time. As each marble passes along the lowermosttrack bar, it will strike the handle of the striker 16 and this willcause the bell to be sounded, thus sounding a bell each time the marblesreach the lower ends of the track bars. The marbles will drop upon theinclined chute 5 and will fall into the pocket 6 from which they may beremoved and placed in the tray 4.

There has thus been provided a toy which will operate very efiiclentlyin the manner described, the marbles bein released at the proper timeand the signal ell being sounded when the marbles reach the lower endsof the track bars.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprisin a series of oppositely disposed inclined trac spositioned one above the other and each having a pivotally mounted lowerend portion movable into and out of engagement with the upper end of asucceeding track bar, arms extending from the pivoted end portions ofthe tracks, certain of said arms being weighted and the arm of onepivoted end portion unweighted,

a receptacle above the upper track having an cessively through theoutlet onto the upper track, and a guard for the outlet operativelyconnected with the unweighted arm and moved by a. roller passing overits cooperating pivoted track end to permit a single roller to pass outof the receptacle and retain other rollers in the receptacle.

2. A toy comprising a pairof oppositely disposed inclined trackspositioned one above the other, the lower track having a pivotallymounted lower end portion, arms extending from the pivoted track end, areceptacle above the upper track having an outlet, and a guard fordelivering rollers one at a time through the outlet operativelyconnected with the arms of the pivoted track end and receiving movementwhen a roller passes over the track and swings the same downwardly, saidguard comprising a rocker shaft journaled transversely in the receptacleand having fingers extending longitudinally of the receptacle above theoutlet, a lever connected with the rocker shaft, an arm extending fromsaid lever beneath the receptacle and having fingers extending upwardlythrough slots in the receptacle and terminating in spaced relation tothe fingers of said rocker shaft, and a link connecting the lever withthe arm of its cooperating pivoted track end.

3. A toy of the character described including a roller receptacle havingan outlet, a rocker shaft journaled transversely in the receptacle andhaving a finger extending longitudinally of the receptacle above theoutlet, a lever connected with the rocker shaft, an arm extending fromsaid lever beneath the receptacle and a finger extending upwardlythrough a slot in the receptacle and terminating in spaced relation tothe finger of said rocker shaft, and actuating means connected with saidlever for imparting movement to the same.

shaft journaled in the si 4. A toy comprising a frame, track barscarried by the frame one above the other and downwardly inclined, eachhaving a free lower end portion terminating short of and in spacedrelation to the upper end of the succeeding track bar and having asection of its free end pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movementinto and out of engagement with the upper end of the track bar beneathit, and means counterbalancing the pivoted end of each ,track bar tonormally retain the same in a raised position whereby a pivoted trackend may swing down to deposit a roller upon a lower track bar and thenreturn to a raised position to allow the roller to passbeneath thepivoted track end.

5. A toy of the character described including a roller receptacle havingside walls and a bottom provided with an outlet and a guard for theoutlet com rising a rocker e walls, fingers extending from the rockershaft longitudinally of the receptacle above the outlet and archedupwardly and having their ends normally positioned for extending infront of a roller in the receptacle to hold the roller against passingthrough the outlet, a lever connected with one end of said rocker shaft,an arm extending from the lever beneath the receptacle and havingfingerscurved upwardly and extending through slots in the bottom of thereceptacle for engaglng a roller to the rear of the roller engaged bythe fingers of the rocker shaft and holding the second roller againstmovement when the lever is moved to rotate the rocker shaft and swingfingers of the I'OGliu shaft upwardly to permit the first roller to passthrough the outlet opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 111 hand.

y CLARENCE W. BLACKBURN.

